This is one of my most-requested side dishes, and with good reason. I’m not exaggerating when I say that everyone in my family always goes back for seconds (myself included 🙊). If you want to hear the same “Will you pass the potatoes, please?” chorus in your house, I’m here to share all my best garlic mashed potato tips and techniques. The roasted garlic is actually the key to this recipe’s amped-up flavor. And as for textures, you can do quite a few things to get perfectly creamy, fluffy potatoes. Get ready for all the details on how to make restaurant-quality garlic mashed potatoes! 👩🍳 I’ve got a few tips to keep everything light, fluffy, and creamy, but nothing is complicated at all. Even beginner home cooks can master this recipe. In fact, this recipe is ideal for someone just starting out because it proves that making home-cooked, flavorful meals are totally doable.
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Roast the Garlic
Prep Garlic – Cut the top ¼ to ½ inch off the top of a whole garlic head so that each clove is visibly exposed. (Photo 1) Drizzle – Place the head of garlic on foil paper together with your thyme sprigs. Drizzle the top with about a teaspoon of olive oil. (Photo 2) Roast – Wrap it all up and place it in a preheated 400℉/205℃ oven for about 40 minutes. When the garlic is golden, soft, and fragrant, take it out of the oven and set it aside to cool. (Photo 3)
Cook the Potatoes
Peel the potatoes, removing any bad or bruised spots with a knife. Chop – Cut the potatoes into large, even-sized chunks. Give the potatoes a good rinsing until the water runs clear. (Photo 4) Simmer – Next, place the potatoes in a large pot and cover them completely with water. Add 1-2 teaspoons of salt to the water. Bring the potatoes to a boil and simmer them until they are fork-tender. (Photo 5) Drain the potatoes and put them in the pot. Then gently reheat them to remove excess moisture. (Photo 6)
Ready to Mash
Get Ready – Transfer the potatoes to a stand mixer with a whipping paddle or a large bowl if you’re using a hand mixer. Add Buttery Goodness – Add the butter, sour cream, garlic (by gently squeezing the cloves out of the head), and pepper. Start mixing and add the warm milk as you go until the potatoes are smooth and fluffy. If they seem too thick, add a bit more milk. (Press the potatoes and garlic into a large bowl through a potato ricer if using. Add the butter, sour cream, and milk and stir gently to blend.) (Photos 7-8) Serve – Give your potatoes a taste test and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. Finally, garnish with parsley and serve warm!
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
You can make garlic mashed potatoes up to two days ahead of time. Simply store them in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat them over medium heat in a buttered skillet until they’re warmed through. If you just want a partial make ahead, peel and cut the potatoes and keep them submerged in water overnight in the fridge. You can also roast the garlic the day before, then boil the potatoes and mash everything the next day.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve garlic mashed potatoes steaming hot. You can garnish them with a little chopped parsley or top them with a healthy serving of homemade gravy. Store leftover mashed potatoes in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days. You can reheat them either on the stovetop in a buttered skillet or in the microwave.
What Goes With Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Literally anything! That’s another reason this fabulous side is regularly on my dinner table. It goes great with almost all meats, though my favorites to pair it with are probably steak tips and oven-baked pork chops. They also go wonderfully with other sides, like parmesan-crusted baked asparagus, blanched green beans, Southern collard greens, and cornbread.
More Spectacular Sides to Try
Conclusion
Is this creamy garlic mashed potatoes recipe making your mouth water yet? Would you love more drool-worthy comfort food recipes? Then follow me on Instagram for the latest and greatest. ❤️
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”Y80L0eIF” upload-date=”2020-10-05T10:49:28.000Z” name=”Roast Garlic Mashed Potatoes” description=”Roast Garlic Mashed Potatoes – Creamy, fluffy and Flavor-packed, super easy to make and full of savory, delicious roasted garlic flavor! A perfect side dish for any protein meal and a must have side dish for the holidays.” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”] This blog post was originally published in October 2017 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.